I called them for an appointment for my 09 RAV 4. ...

I called them for an appointment for my 09 RAV 4. They'd serviced it before and had done an average job, except forgetting to turn off the "Maintenance Light" after a service, causing some confusion on a trip to AZ. I took it back and they fixed it.

The receptionist transferred my call to the service department, and I spoke with a woman, telling her my name, the type of car I had and that the maintenance light was on, indicating I needed a 75,000 mile checkup. She made the appointment. I asked her if this was an involved service requiring a lot of time, and she said, "No, it's pretty routine, about an hour and a half or two." Fine.

I then got an email the next day, confirming my appointment and stating that the cost for this service was $99.70. Fine. At that point, I was assuming that Toyota and Broadway would easily service my RAV4.

I arrived on time and that's when the problems and confusion started. The young man who wrote up my service contract said the amount I would owe was something over $350. When I told him about the email, he searched but couldn't find that it had even been sent. He said the $99.70 was probably for a basic oil change, and checking fluid levels, etc. The higher priced service was, he said, the one Toyota recommended.

When I asked him how long the more expensive service would take, he wasn't sure, but said, "We'll do whatever you'd like us to do." I didn't know what needed to be done. I was merely following the maintenance light's warning, coming in to have my car serviced at 75,234 miles. After several minutes of discussion, I chose to just have the lesser service done, thinking that $99.70 was a bit high, but, not being a mechanic, I signed the paper and went to the Scion Cafe, the one good thing about this whole experience.

90 minutes later I was summoned to the "Service Desk" in the waiting room and given a bill for $49.95. So, three different prices for three different services, or...? Did they do the $99.70 service? Did they do only half of it and charged me $49.95? When I questioned the women at the service desk in the lobby, she said it was the computer's fault; she'd tried to fix it but was unsuccessful since it was new software. When I asked if this same software was installed at all Toyota dealerships, she said no. "Some do, some don't. It all depends".

Bottom line: It seems that "Broadway Toyota is" NOT "the only way to go. I'm going to Gladstone and Gresham. Driving the extra distance is worth it.

Bo Ayars